Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in India
India: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 6.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in India, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 6.7% for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 26.8% on the previous year and down 81.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in India peaked at 79.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 2024.
That places India 81st out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 79.7% | — |
| 2001 | 76.5% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 73.2% | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 70.0% | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 66.8% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 63.6% | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 60.4% | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 57.3% | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 54.1% | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 51.0% | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 47.8% | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 44.7% | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 41.6% | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 38.5% | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 35.5% | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 32.4% | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 29.4% | -9.4% |
| 2017 | 26.3% | -10.3% |
| 2018 | 23.3% | -11.4% |
| 2019 | 20.3% | -12.8% |
| 2020 | 17.5% | -14.0% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | -16.0% |
| 2022 | 11.9% | -18.8% |
| 2023 | 9.2% | -22.9% |
| 2024 | 6.7% | -26.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 6.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.4%, 26% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 6.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.3%, 2.9× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 65.3% | 51.0% | 79.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 20.3% | 47.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 6.7% | 17.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 78 Belize 7.3% compare
- 79 Wallis and Futuna 7.0% compare
- 80 Honduras 6.8% compare
- 82 Cayman Islands 6.6% compare
- 83 Saint Lucia 6.2% compare
- 84 French Guiana 5.9% compare
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in India?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in India was 6.7% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 79.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 2024.
- How does India rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- India ranks 81st out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.